Lynne Featherstone has launched an urgent campaign to save the 24 hour Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at our local hospital – the Whittington. Under new plans being brought forward by NHS managers the Whittington could be downgraded to ‘local hospital status’ – putting the A&E service in jeopardy. The story is covered in the Hornsey Journal – article here.
If the Whittington A&E closed Stroud Green residents would have to travel twice the distance in a medical emergency – to get to the Royal Free at Hampstead instead. There is no A&E service in Haringey Borough at all – already making us comparatively poorly served.
Stroud Green councillor Ed Butcher joined Lynne in a recent visit to the Whittington to try to stop the proposals (see picture). Health officials have refused to give Lynne written assurances on the fate of the A&E and so Lynne has launched a campaign to show the strength of local feeling against any closure.
Please do sign Lynne’s online petition here in order to protect our local health services.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
My partner suffers from chronic asthma and it is frightening to think that there may no accessible A&E department to take him to in an emergency. People die during asthma attacks – which often occur at night – and proximity to A&E is absolutely crucial.
Asthma is one of the most common potentially life-threatening conditions, and affects many children.